In article . com,
"DavePoole Torquay" writes:
|
| Many of the South African
| succulents (Lampranthus, Delosperma etc. also gave a good second show
| towards the end of August and a climbing Aloe (A. ciliata) was
| persuaded to produce again, festooned in spikes of vivid scarlet
| 'cigars', by early September.

Mine (in the conservatory) doesn't flower at all well - I tend to
ignore it, rather, though it is in a border that goes down to the
subsoil and it grows very happily. Any ideas?

| Let's see if my Albizia keeps its new growth through the winter.
|
| Depends upon how long it gets before the first hard frosts. A wet or
| dull end to summer means that the shoots don't harden as well as they
| might. Hot dry Augusts and Septembers are best for that. A long, slow
| build up to the cold weather can help, fingers crossed eh?

The coldest so far was about -4, and just enough to kill the leaves
of Erythina crista-galli.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote ( Aloe ciliata?):

Mine (in the conservatory) doesn't flower at all well - I tend to
ignore it, rather, though it is in a border that goes down to the
subsoil and it grows very happily. Any ideas?

It tends to respond well to good growing conditions in summer with lots
of sun, plenty of water and regular feeding. Being an Aloe, folks tend
to consider it as a succulent that prefers fairly austere treatment.
However, its barely succulent leaves and lax growth indicate that it
needs rather better. Mine is kept in a very large container close to
the house wall, where it benefits from 'rain-shadow' in winter and
remains completely frost free. In summer it gets baked for most of the
day and the stems can grow as much as 2m. given a little encouragement.
Inflorescences are borne at the stem tips, usually in late winter/early
spring and it is important that the shoots remain undamaged.

The coldest so far was about -4, and just enough to kill the leaves
of Erythina crista-galli.

I've not seen anything below 1C. in the coldest part of the garden so
far. I don't have crista-galli although I find it an exceptionally
handsome shrub - especially the compact form. I have E. indica, which
is still in leaf - nowhere near as attractive and significantly more
tender. It is only a couple of years old and has yet to flower. I was
certain that last winter would see it off, but it barely suffered any
die-back and has grown quite well this year. As to your Albizia, if
severe frosts hold off for another few weeks the shoot tips should have
hardened enough to take the usual February onslaught.

In article .com, "DavePoole Torquay" writes:
| Nick Maclaren wrote ( Aloe ciliata?):
|
| Mine (in the conservatory) doesn't flower at all well - I tend to
| ignore it, rather, though it is in a border that goes down to the
| subsoil and it grows very happily. Any ideas?
|
| It tends to respond well to good growing conditions in summer with lots
| of sun, plenty of water and regular feeding. Being an Aloe, folks tend
| to consider it as a succulent that prefers fairly austere treatment.
| However, its barely succulent leaves and lax growth indicate that it
| needs rather better. Mine is kept in a very large container close to
| the house wall, where it benefits from 'rain-shadow' in winter and
| remains completely frost free. In summer it gets baked for most of the
| day and the stems can grow as much as 2m. given a little encouragement.
| Inflorescences are borne at the stem tips, usually in late winter/early
| spring and it is important that the shoots remain undamaged.

Mine doesn't really bake in summer, as the conservatory is well-ventilated,
but it does face south. And, as there is always water a few feet down,
it grows quite happily. The problem may be that I have to tip it when
it grows above 2m - which it does! I will try a different pruning
technique.

| As to your Albizia, if
| severe frosts hold off for another few weeks the shoot tips should have
| hardened enough to take the usual February onslaught.

Ah. Thanks.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.